A good sleeping bag, or lack thereof, can make or break a camping trip. There are plenty of models out there to choose from, in a variety of lengths, shapes and fills. Choosing the right bag depends on your sleeping habits, the temperature and climate where you intend to camp, and whether you'll be carrying the bag in a backpack, boat or car. Use the guidelines below to help you select the sleeping bag to meet your needs.

There is no universal standard for rating sleeping bags. Ratings vary according to manufacturer. How a bag performs greatly depends on its insulating material, construction and loft. When selecting a temperature rating for a sleeping bag, be sure to consider the following:

The lower the rating, the warmer the bag

If you plan to camp in warm conditions and also want your bag to be comfortable on cool spring and fall nights, look for a three-season bag rated to 20 degrees

Traditional camp bags are comfortable to about 40 degrees

In general, consider the coldest night you will likely experience, and then drop down 10 or 20 degrees

Keep in mind that temperature ratings always assume that the bag will be used with a ground pad

The loft of a sleeping bag refers to how much the insulation "fluffs up"

More loft means more warmth

For maximum loft, look for a bag with a differential cut, one in which the inner lining is smaller than the outer shell. This allows the insulation to loft up to its maximum.